Marc-André Weber MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Martin Krix MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hagen B Huttner MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Uta Jappe MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hans-Ulrich Kauczor MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Stefan Delorme MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate whether quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is able to determine pathologic muscular perfusion in patients with myositis and thereby noninvasively confirm the suspected diagnosis.

We developed a method to quantify perfusion in skeletal muscles using contrast-enhanced (10ml Levovist® i.v.), intermittent power Doppler ultrasound applying a modified model analyzing replenishment kinetics of microbubbles. For validation, perfusion of the right biceps muscle and the right forearm flexor muscles at rest and after defined exercise was repeatedly quantified in 18 healthy volunteers and compared with plethysmography serving as reference. In 16 patients with suspected myositis, CEUS of the right biceps muscle was performed to measure blood flow, blood volume, and blood flow velocity.

CEUS allowed for perfusion quantification in different groups of skeletal muscles. Muscular blood flow and blood volume obtained by CEUS significantly correlated with perfusion measured by plethysmography (r=0.8). In 6 patients, myositis was confirmed histologically, and CEUS showed significantly higher blood flow and blood volume parameters than in patients without histological confirmation of myositis and in volunteers, respectively (mean blood flow: 19627±15846 vs. 2265±1928 vs. 2768±1797 [~ ml/min/100g], p<0.05 Mann-Whitney U test; mean blood volume: 17120±4039 vs. 4747±4691 vs. 10745±5175 [~ ml], p<0.05 Mann-Whitney U test; mean blood flow velocity: 1.1±0.7 vs. 0.5±0.3 vs. 0.3±0.2 [mm/s], p<0.05 Mann-Whitney U test).

CEUS is able to quantify skeletal muscle perfusion. Moreover, CEUS is able to noninvasively demonstrate increased perfusion of involved muscle groups in patients with myositis.

Weber, M, Krix, M, Huttner, H, Jappe, U, Kauczor, H, Delorme, S, Detection of Pathologic Skeletal Muscle Perfusion in Patients with Myositis Using Quantitative Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4411863.html